Hydraulic turbine operating method and apparatus

Claim 3

An operating method according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying air includes introducing compressed air into the runner chamber, and wherein the step of controlling the air supply and discharging of water leakage includes opening a drain valve to discharge leak water from the guide vanes when a water level in the runner chamber has reached a preset level to thereby arrest thrust variation between the upper and lower sides of the running during the switching operation.

Claim 4

A hydraulic turbine operating apparatus comprising a runner disposed in the runner chamber, guide vanes arranged around said runner, an air supply valve for feeding compressed air into said runner chamber, a water level detector means for detecting the water level in said runner chamber, a water pressure detector means for detecting water pressure around the runner, a drain valve for discharging leak water from said guide vanes an exhaust valve for releasing compressed air in said runner chamber, means for opening said drain valve when the water level in said runner chamber has dropped to a preset level during transition from normal running to spiNing reserve, means for opening said exhaust valve after perfect closure of said drain valve when the operating pattern is switched from spining reserve to normal running.

Claim 5

A hydraulic turbine operating apparatus comprising a runner disposed in the runner chamber, guide vanes arranged around said runner, an air supply valve for feeding compressed air into said runner chamber, a water level detector means for detecting the water level in said runner chamber, a water pressure detector means for detecting water pressure around the runner, a drain valve for discharging leak water from said guide vanes an exhaust valve for releasing compressed air in said runner chamber, means for opening said drain valve when the water level in said runner chamber has dropped to a preset level during transition from normal running to spiNing reserve, means for opening said exhaust valve after perfect closure of said drain valve when the operating pattern is switched from spining reserve to normal running.

Claim 6

An operating method for an hydraulic turbine in which the operating pattern of the turbine is switched from a spinning reserve to a normal running, the method comprising: discharging air from a runner chamber of the hydraulic turbine, discharging water leakage from guide vanes of the hydraulic turbine, and controlling the discharging of the air and the discharging of the water leakage so that the relation between thrusts on upper and lower sides of a runner of the turbine will be substantially the same as that in the normal running condition.

Claim 7

An operating method for an hydraulic turbine in which the operating pattern of the turbine is switched from a spinning reserve to a normal running, the method comprising: discharging air from a runner chamber of the hydraulic turbine, discharging water leakage from guide vanes of the hydraulic turbine, and controlling the discharging of the air and the discharging of the water leakage so that the relation between thrusts on upper and lower sides of a runner of the turbine will be substantially the same as that in the normal running condition.

Claim 8

An operating method according to claim 4, wherein the step of controlling the discharging of the air and discharging of the water leakage includes fully opening a drain valve to discharge leak water from the guide vanes, and then opening an exhaust valve to discharge air from the runner chamber to thereby arrest thrust variation between the upper and lower sides of the runner during the switching operation.

Claim 9

An operating method for an hydraulic turbine in which the operating pattern is switched from a normal running to a spinning reserve, the method comprising: closing guide vane means of the hydraulic turbine, supplying compressed air to a runner chamber means of the hydraulic turbine upon closing of the guide vane means, detecting the water level in the runner chamber means, opening a leak water drain valve means upon the water level in the runner chamber means reaching a predetermined level, and controlling the supplying of the compressed air to the runner chamber means in response to the water level to maintain said water level at the predetermined level.

Claim 10

An operating method for an hydraulic turbine in which the operating pattern is switched from a normal running to a spinning reserve, the method comprising: closing guide vane means of the hydraulic turbine, supplying compressed air to a runner chamber means of the hydraulic turbine upon closing of the guide vane means, detecting the water level in the runner chamber means, opening a leak water drain valve means upon the water level in the runner chamber means reaching a predetermined level, and controlling the supplying of the compressed air to the runner chamber means in response to the water level to maintain said water level at the predetermined level.

Claim 11

An operating method for an hydraulic turbine in which the operating pattern is switched from a spinning reserve to a normal running, the method comprising: closing a leak water drain valve means for the hydraulic turbine, opening an exhaust valve means to permit the water level in a running chamber means of the turbine to rise to a predetermined level, detecting the water pressure in the running chamber means, closing the exhaust valve means in response to a predetermined detected water pressure, and initiating an opening of guide vane means of the hydraulic turbine upon closing of the exhaust valve means.

Claim 12

An operating method for an hydraulic turbine in which the operating pattern is switched from a spinning reserve to a normal running, the method comprising: closing a leak water drain valve means for the hydraulic turbine, opening an exhaust valve means to permit the water level in a running chamber means of the turbine to rise to a predetermined level, detecting the water pressure in the running chamber means, closing the exhaust valve means in response to a predetermined detected water pressure, and initiating an opening of guide vane means of the hydraulic turbine upon closing of the exhaust valve means.